Destination USA: Academic environment in US universities
In our special topic series on US higher education system, today we share with our readers about the academic environment in US colleges and universities. A few prominent attributes of the US higher education institutions include applied and practice-oriented teaching systems, student-centric pedagogy, academic integrity, continuous evaluation, and participatory learning methods. Upon enrolment in the […]
In our special topic series on US higher education system, today we share with our readers about the academic environment in US colleges and universities.
A few prominent attributes of the US higher education institutions include applied and practice-oriented teaching systems, student-centric pedagogy, academic integrity, continuous evaluation, and participatory learning methods.
Upon enrolment in the program, each student is assigned an academic adviser. Students may discuss their major/minor or specialisation, course selection and registration, research area (for research-oriented programs of study), and other program-related requirements with their adviser. It is important that students keep in regular touch with their adviser during their program of study.
Although sometimes the department enrolls students in coursework, most of the times, selecting and enrolling in course work is the responsibility of the student. Students should carefully choose courses and a certain number of credit hours for each semester to ensure that they take enough courses to maintain ‘full-time’ enrolment status. Given the practice-based approach to learning, each course requires substantial input and efforts on part of the student. So, students should balance the number of credits they opt for in a semester, as enrolling in too many courses may not be advisable. In addition, depending on the courses that are being offered in a particular semester, students may choose a mix of introductory and advanced courses.
Within the classroom setting, students are expected to be the center of learning, where they take responsibility to attend classes regularly, contribute to class discussion, submit assignments on time, and ask appropriate questions. The course instructors share the syllabus for their respective course, along with the course plan, readings, and required/optional textbooks, at the beginning of the semester. Libraries on campus may not have multiple copies of the textbooks so, students may need to buy new or used books, depending on course requirement and price. The university bookstore, outside bookstores, and online stores are a few places where students may buy books.
Lastly, but importantly, US higher education institutions are extremely strict about their honor code/code of conduct. All students are expected to follow university guidelines related to academic integrity/honesty, cheating, and plagiarism. Students should visit their college/university website to read the honor code carefully before they start their programs.
— Monika Setia (Regional Officer and EducationUSA Adviser at the United States-India Educational Foundation based at the US Consulate General Hyderabad. Please visit https://educationusa.state.gov/centers/educationusa-usief-hyderabad for more information)
Q&A:
Q1. What is the admission and application system at community colleges in the United States? — Niyati
A. Community colleges in the United States operate an ‘open’ admissions policy. This means anyone who wishes to enroll and meets the minimum entry requirements can do so. Each institution will have its own set of admission requirements, but the minimum usually includes the following:
• Completed application form
• Proof of secondary school completion, usually 12 years of schooling
• Certification of English language proficiency – TOEFL or IELTS
• Evidence of financial support
The English language proficiency requirement may be lower for a community college than it is for a four-year institution. In addition, if a student’s score is a little below the entry requirement, the community college may still admit the student into the English as a Second Language (ESL) program. Successful completion of all the prescribed ESL courses will open the door to the wider academic world of the community college.
Students should contact the admissions office of the two-year college to request international admissions information. Many community colleges have websites with downloadable or on-line applications. To search for community colleges, students may visit the American Association of Community Colleges website (https://www.aacc.nche.edu/college-finder/) or bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college search and nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator.
Q. I am applying for PhD programs in the US. From whom should I take my letters of recommendations? – Ashwin
A. While the requirements for letters of recommendation (LOR) may vary by program/university, generally the letter can be taken either from an academic (teachers/professors) or professional contact (supervisor/project leader/clients). Professional contacts are especially relevant for applicants who have some work experience. Some universities require at least one or two LORs from academic contacts out of the three. Applicants should carefully read the instructions related to reference letters for the shortlisted universities before deciding from whom they should take their letters.
When choosing their recommenders, applicants should keep in mind that the recommender should know them really well. If you are applying for PhD program right after your Bachelor’s program, you may choose one or two professors who have taught you a course along with the adviser with whom you have worked on your project work. If you are pursuing or have just completed Master’s degree, your thesis guide will be an ideal recommender, along with professors from Bachelor’s or Master’s program who have taught you relevant courses. For working professionals, depending on the requirements of the university, applicants may take one professional and two academic recommendations.
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